My Crazy Housemate

3Leo could not allow Mia continue sulking so he went to her room the next morning. He had called Chloe to know when their classes was to begin and Chloe had said it was by 8am. The time was already a few minutes to 8 yet she hadn't opened her door since last night. He had thought letting her have the time for herself was best, but he wasn't sure anymore. He wanted her to be completely okay.     3

The door was locked when he tried to open it so he went to fetch the spare key from his room. He had made a quick breakfast earlier— sandwich, omelet and coffee for her so he carried the tray with him inside her room.      

Just as he had expected, she was lying on the bed in a fetal position with her back to him. Her head was on the pillow and a duvet covered her body. He walked almost silently and took his time dropping the tray on the vanity table so he wouldn't make any noise that would rouse her from sleep. But on a second thought, why didn't he want to wake her up when he had come here to wake her up in the first place?      

He stood there wondering whether to wake her up or not when he heard her voice, "You know you can stop acting like a thief now." She said in a very quiet voice that he almost missed she said something.      

"You were awake?" He asked in surprise and moved closer to the bed to the side where her head was. He stood there and looked at her sadly. Her eyes were still tightly closed but he could see how broken and lifeless she looked. She must have cried all through the night. He was at least happy he had taken her to eat before they went to the hospital.      

"You shouldn't keep it in Mia. Talk to me. If there is something you want me to help you with, I'll do it. Don't just look like this.... please."      

Through the duvet, he could see her body begin to shake. She slightly parted her mouth and while he was waiting to hear a word, what came out were broken sobs.      

He sat down beside her immediately and began to pat her back. "Shh. It's okay. It's going to be fine, trust me." He said and continued to pat her gently.      

Mia cried so much that she feared she had exhausted a lifetime of tears in just a few hours.      

"I'm s-car-ed." She said in between sobs.      

Leo lied down beside her and practically hugged her on the bed while he continued to pat her back.      

"I'm so scared Leo." She continued.      

"You don't have to be. I'll protect you." But he remembered in a few days time, he would be on a plane going far away. How was he going to protect her from many miles away when it seemed like she was always getting in one  trouble or the other every week?      

"What if they are correct? What if... I really have a bad luck?"      

"Come on, now you believe in those stupid superstition? You are smarter than that."      

Mia shook her head stubbornly. "There is a huge possiblity that it is true. Someone told me that a few weeks back. I have bad luck. I am so scared!"      

"Mia.. stop it. Do not let their words get to you. You have done nothing wrong. You did nothing wrong. From the beginning, nothing was your fault. Just like Linda blamed you at first when Mary was missing, but at the end, didn't we all see that Mary ran away and nothing bad happened to her?"     

"There is no reason for my father to run away." Mia countered.      

"He was in debt. You mentioned it. And you all had to sell off your properties to pay off his debt."      

"He has a wife and children. My father isn't that kind of person!" She cried.     

"You also wouldn't have believed he was the type to cheat right?"      

"I... am so sorry Mia." He quickly apologized when she stiffened at his words. It seemed that for a little moment, she had forgotten about the fact that her biological mother was all bones in the grave while she kept trying everyday to please Linda.     

Mia sniffed. Tears was flowing down her eyes like a waterfall. Leo wasn't sure he had seen so much tears from one person before.      

"I really didn't want to have that conversation with them earlier. If wasn't difficult to guess that I'm probably not Linda's child. Why did... Mary do that to... me?"      

"Mia please.. you are going to fall sick at this rate. You have lot to do this week and you shouldn't let this whole thing ruin your happiness."      

"Happiness? I can never be happy! This is probably a punishment from the heavens because my mother tried to ruin Linda's marriage."      

"You are becoming unreasonable." Leo said, trying not to get annoyed at her conclusion.      

Mia shook her head stubbornly. "I'm scared, I'm scared! I don't want to have bad luck.  I don't want it. Please I don't want it." She continued to shake her head vigorously and cry loudly. "I... don't want... it... please..."      

"You don't have it." He hugged her head to his chest and rubbed her back soothingly. He was so heartbroken for her. If there was a way all her pain could be transferred to him, he wouldn't think twice before accepting it. She was always hurting. He just hoped she wouldn't end up being depressed and try to push everyone away because of her silly superstition.      

"Go away from me please... I don't want your life to become a mess because of me."      

Now, that was what he was talking about.      

"Mia..."      

"I am scared of being alone but it's very frightening to imagine what would happen to you if you continued —"     

"You are going to piss me off." He said in a deep, threatening voice, cutting her off.      

He reached for her phone when it started to ring and she shook her head. She didn't want to take the call. She didn't want to take any calls. She wanted to be alone until she could convince herself that she wasn't what everyone was saying she was.      

"It's Mira." Leo informed her.      

Mira was probably getting ready to leave for the airport but still, she couldn't bring herself to answer the call. Her friend was in so much because of her family once again. Did she also indirectly make that happen? It was silly to think so, but now, if she could believe in superstition, why wouldn't she believe everything else?      

 ~~~     

"She still isn't taking her calls?" James asked Mira.  They were already at the airport with Mira's plane almost ready to board.      

"She isn't. Do you think she is okay?"      

"Give Leo a call." James suggested. Mira nodded and dailed his number but he also didn't answer the call.      

"They are probably busy." James said when he saw the worry in her face. "I'll drop by his apartment to know what's up and text you the details."      

When the call came for the boarding passengers to join the plane, she looked at her phone with regret before smiling up at James.     

"I'll call you when I arrive."     

"Of course, you don't have much of a choice." He said with a smile.      

They looked at each other for a few seconds before they found themselves suddenly hugging. None of them could remember who initiated the hug.      

"I'll miss you." He whispered.      

"I know." She replied cheekily and laughed when she pulled away from the hug to see him frowning at her.      

He touched her face lightly and helped move the hair which escaped her ponytail, behind her ear.      

"I'll miss you." She suddenly said seriously.      

"I know."      

The tension between them became unbearable so she quickly stepped back.      

"Take care!" She waved and turned around.